--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man is flying too fast for a world that…" description: "\"Man is flying too fast for a world that is round. Soon he will catch up with himself in a great rear end collision.\" — James Thurber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/james-thurber-1534_collision_man-is-flying-too-fast-for-a-world-that_1290743.png" --- # Man is flying too fast for a world that is round. Soon he… ![“Man is flying too fast for a world that is round. Soon he will catch up with himself in a great rear end collision.” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/james-thurber-1534_collision_man-is-flying-too-fast-for-a-world-that_1290743.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/james-thurber-1534_collision_man-is-flying-too-fast-for-a-world-that_1290743.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/james-thurber-1534_collision_man-is-flying-too-fast-for-a-world-that_1290743.png) > “Man is flying too fast for a world that is round. Soon he will catch up with himself in a great rear end collision.” [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human ambition outpaces reality, leading to inevitable self‑collision when fantasies clash with the world. **In simple terms:** We chase dreams faster than reality can keep up. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with realistic expectations. Themes ambition reality humor self‑awareness Mood humorous reflective Type literary satirical When to use this quote - career planning - personal goal setting - creative pursuits Key Concepts Existential absurdity psychology satire Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay grounded while pursuing big dreams? - When have you felt reality catch up to your expectations? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on ambition can cause burnout or disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Collision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collision/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Flying Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying-fast-3548056/) [Man Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-flying-4204180/) [Rear End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rear-end-773293/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“As he walked...he picked up the holodreams of the suits... \_I believe\_. A yellow-suited man was flying one World War II plane and fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha/as-he-walked-he-picked-up-the-holodreams-of-the-suits-i-believe-a/) [Misha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha/) > [They cripple the bird's wing, and then condemn it for not flying as fast as they.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/they-cripple-the-bird-s-wing-and-then-condemn-it-for-not-flying-as/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“What in the name of Voldy’s pasty-white rear end was that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/what-in-the-name-of-voldy-s-pasty-white-rear-end-was-that/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [Never comment on a woman's rear end. Never use the words 'large' or 'size' with 'rear end.' Never. Avoid the area altogether. Trust me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/never-comment-on-a-woman-s-rear-end-never-use-the-words-large-or-size-2/) [Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/) > [“My rear end was blood-raw from my so called brilliant ideas rebounding on me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/my-rear-end-was-blood-raw-from-my-so-called-brilliant-ideas/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [Every hour you spend on your rear end ... saps your energy and ruins your health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/every-hour-you-spend-on-your-rear-end-saps-your-energy-and-ruins-your/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [People say the seats at sporting events are too small. My response is, 'That's why we're trying to work on the size of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-cornett/people-say-the-seats-at-sporting-events-are-too-small-my-response-is/) [Mick Cornett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-cornett/) > [Pat Patterson works at The Brisco Brothers bodyshop Yeah, he does rear-end work!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/pat-patterson-works-at-the-brisco-brothers-bodyshop-yeah-he-does-rear/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [“This woman has been mine, and she will be mine' he said, in tones so definite I thought about checking my rear end for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/this-woman-has-been-mine-and-she-will-be-mine-he-said-in-tones-so/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Maybe its not necessarily a dead-end job; maybe more along the lines of a rear-end one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/maybe-its-not-necessarily-a-dead-end-job-maybe-more-along-the-lines/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [Never comment on a woman's rear end. Never use the words large or size with ear end. Never. Avoid the area altogether. Trust me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/never-comment-on-a-woman-s-rear-end-never-use-the-words-large-or-size/) [Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/) > [When you were born and your mom saw your face and your rear end, she said "Oh! Siamesse Twins!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lawler/when-you-were-born-and-your-mom-saw-your-face-and-your-rear-end-she/) [Jerry Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lawler/) > [Hell, when I was in high school, a "drive-by shooting" meant somebody had their rear end hanging out a car window!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/hell-when-i-was-in-high-school-a-drive-by-shooting-meant-somebody-had/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [I wonder if it's ever really possible to know the truth about someone else, or if the best we can do is just stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wonder-if-it-s-ever-really-possible-to-know-the-truth-about-someone/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) ## More by James Thurber > [ Salvador \[Dali\] was brought up in Spain, a country colored by the legends of Hannibal, El Greco, and Cervantes. I was brought up in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/salvador-dali-was-brought-up-in-spain-a-country-colored-by-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/her-own-mother-lived-the-latter-years-of-her-life-in-the-horrible/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Against the may, the could be, and the should, folly 'tis to balance doubt or hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/against-the-may-the-could-be-and-the-should-folly-tis-to-balance/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/love-is-the-strange-bewilderment-that-overtakes-one-person-on-account/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“ There was an old coddle so molly, He talked in a glot that was poly, His gaws were so gew That his laps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/there-was-an-old-coddle-so-molly-he-talked-in-a-glot-that-was-poly/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“you might as well fall on your face as lean over too far backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/you-might-as-well-fall-on-your-face-as-lean-over-too-far-backwards/) [james thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I myself have known some profoundly thoughtful dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-myself-have-known-some-profoundly-thoughtful-dogs/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [He knows all about art, but he doesn't know what he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-knows-all-about-art-but-he-doesn-t-know-what-he-likes/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/all-men-should-strive-to-learn-before-they-die-what-they-are-running/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Quick, name some towns in New Jersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/quick-name-some-towns-in-new-jersey/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Looks can be deceiving; it's eating that's believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/looks-can-be-deceiving-it-s-eating-that-s-believing/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“I don’t understand,” said the scientist, “why you lemmings all rush down to the sea and drown yourselves.” “How curious,” said the lemming. “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-don-t-understand-said-the-scientist-why-you-lemmings-all-rush-down/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/humor-does-not-include-sarcasm-invalid-irony-sardonicism-innuendo-or/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Where most of us end up there is no knowing, but the hellbent get where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/where-most-of-us-end-up-there-is-no-knowing-but-the-hellbent-get/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) [Explore all 229 James Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## More Collision quotes > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [I wonder if it's ever really possible to know the truth about someone else, or if the best we can do is just stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wonder-if-it-s-ever-really-possible-to-know-the-truth-about-someone/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [GOOD AS NEW was born out of the idea of writing a play where the stakes were high and the collisions were of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/good-as-new-was-born-out-of-the-idea-of-writing-a-play-where-the/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Is it worth it, that decision? Cause hearts breakin', I ain't tryna be in that collision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/is-it-worth-it-that-decision-cause-hearts-breakin-i-ain-t-tryna-be-in/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“Most people do not realize that they are one car crash away from death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/most-people-do-not-realize-that-they-are-one-car-crash-away-from-death/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [The universe is random. It's not inevitable. It's simple chaos. It's subatomic particles in endless, aimless collision. That's what science teaches us, but what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-white/the-universe-is-random-it-s-not-inevitable-it-s-simple-chaos-it-s/) [Walter White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-white/) > [suppose you invest time and effort in designing a new image for yourself. You get home and your husband takes one look and screams,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-graham/suppose-you-invest-time-and-effort-in-designing-a-new-image-for/) [Virginia Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-graham/) > [Trying to exhaust himself, Vaughan devised an endless almanac of terrifying wounds and insane collisions: The lungs of elderly men punctured by door-handles; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-exhaust-himself-vaughan-devised-an-endless-almanac-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think my brain is full of collisions and that's how I like to read and process information. I'm always comparing things and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-chang/i-think-my-brain-is-full-of-collisions-and-that-s-how-i-like-to-read/) [Victoria Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-chang/) > [From the results so far obtained it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the long-range atoms arising from collision of alpha particles with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/from-the-results-so-far-obtained-it-is-difficult-to-avoid-the/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [An old wine-bibber having been smashed in a railway collision, some wine was poured on his lips to revive him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/an-old-wine-bibber-having-been-smashed-in-a-railway-collision-some/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [In Architecture there is a part that is the result of Logical Reasoning and a part that is created through the Senses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/in-architecture-there-is-a-part-that-is-the-result-of-logical/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [There are characters which are continually creating collisions and nodes for themselves in dramas which nobody is prepared to act with them. Their susceptibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-characters-which-are-continually-creating-collisions-and/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“In me was shaping a yearning for a kind of consciousness, a mode of being that the way of life about me had said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wright/in-me-was-shaping-a-yearning-for-a-kind-of-consciousness-a-mode-of/) [Richard Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wright/) > [Music is so essential to the Cuban character that you can't disentangle it from the history of the nation. the history of Cuban music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-sublette/music-is-so-essential-to-the-cuban-character-that-you-can-t/) [Ned Sublette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-sublette/) [Browse all 201 Collision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man is flying too fast for a world that is round. 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